Wouldn't it be nice if the implementation of a CSAz462 (or NFPA70E) electrical safety program was a little more enjoyable? It seems like where ever I go there are always people who are all bent out of shape because of some of the ideas they are grappling with. Or there is push-back from one part of the organization toward another.

Well... in this article, I'd like to offer some ideas to make things a little easier to handle and possibly even make it fun during the implementation phase.

CSAZ462: 5 Ways to Make Implementation More Delightful

#1 Designate a CSAz462 champion

You need to find one person who you can trust to take the ball and run with it. There has to be someone who lives and breathes electrical safety from the day you start planning your program until the day you're confident everyone in the organization has a handle on things.

The great news is that this person doesn't need to know anything about electricity! This is probably where most companies go wrong. Electrical Safety does not have to be technical... it's a safety initiative, no different than fall arrest or confined space.

Designate someone who has good project management skills, can get along with all levels of the organization, and has the drive to make your electrical safety program be a success.

#2 Don't sweat the small stuff

It amazes me how many people get hung up on the smallest little things that they find in CSAz462. Sure, everything is important but there are certain components that are far more important than others.

One example is the question of whether or not earplugs will melt... now, this is a valid question, the problem I have with it is that the person who asked the question is still working on energized equipment with uninsulated tools while wearing a Metallica t-shirt and Levi's jeans!

You need to get your priorities straight. Focus on the big wins... don't sweat the small stuff.

#3 Just do the arc flash study

I'm now convinced. In the long run, getting the arc flash study done on your facility will save you money.

Mainly because it saves you time.

Secondly, because your employees will actually be able to assess the hazards. Which is pretty important.

I haven't come across anyone who is using the infamous category method properly... which means they really aren't providing any level of safety to their employees. Hazard assessment is one of the building blocks of your electrical safety program and without having a method that is reliable your just not satisfying CSAz462.

#4 Use the simplified PPE approach

When it comes to PPE try to keep things very basic by using the simplified PPE approach.

Basically, you'll want to have a base level of 12 cal/cm2 for everyone involved in work where they could be exposed to an arc flash and then maybe a shared suit rated 40, 65 or 100 cal/cm2 (depending on your greatest exposure levels).

#5 Have a 3rd party support the program

Bringing in outside help is always going to simplify the decision-making process. If you find the person or company you will get to benefit from their knowledge of what the rest of the world (and particularly other companies in your industry) are doing.

The biggest benefit will be having someone who can distil the elements of CSAz462 into the components that are applicable to your unique situation.

This is what people usually find the most challenging, the latest version of the standard has 202 pages of information... and let me tell you, all of it does not apply to you.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it's extremely important that you find a way to implement an electrical safety program based on the recommendations of CSAz462... It might not seem like much but what I just gave you were a couple of ways to simplify your approach and make the whole thing much more... delightful.

I hope you enjoyed this article and if you did please say so in the comments. If you have any questions or would like further information on any arc flash or electrical safety topics feel free to reach out to me at jon@leafeletricalsafety.com or @jonmtravis on twitter & instagram.